5 insights from the text messages regarding the Trump administration’s military strategy
Vice President JD Vance indicated that the president may not fully grasp the significance of the Houthi strikes, along with other insights derived from messages that were unintentionally shared with a journalist.
TroibNews 
The disclosure that top security officials in the nation inadvertently shared war plans with a journalist on Signal sent shockwaves through Washington on Monday, even before the contents were revealed.
The chat, initiated by national security adviser Mike Waltz and mistakenly including The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, detailed the Trump administration's considerations regarding bombing the Houthis, a militant group based in Yemen known for targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Additionally, the messages contained dissenting opinions seldom expressed publicly and displayed a casual attitude toward classified information. Here are some key insights:
Vance opposed the bombing of the Houthis.
Vice President JD Vance expressed reservations about proceeding with a bombing campaign against the Iran-backed group.
“We are making a mistake,” he declared, noting that Europe is more dependent on Red Sea trade than the United States.
“3 percent of US trade runs through the [Suez Canal]. 40 percent of European trade does,” he emphasized. “There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary.”
Trump’s vice president doubts the president's comprehension of the situation.
Vance articulated concern that the president might not fully grasp the implications or the messaging associated with an airstrike against the Houthis.
“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” he noted, wary that the attacks could lead to increased oil prices.
“There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices,” he pointed out. “I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.”
National security leaders seemingly shared classified information.
CIA chief John Ratcliffe—or someone from his team acting under his name—texted information in the Signal chat that Goldberg refrained from publishing, stating it “contained information that might be interpreted as related to actual and current intelligence operations.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also disclosed likely classified information to the group. “The Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing," Goldberg reported.
The administration held strong views about Europe.
Vance and Hegseth expressed their disdain for European allies.
“I just hate bailing Europe out again,” Vance texted, noting that the Red Sea, where the Houthis had been attacking commercial vessels, facilitates more European trade than U.S. trade.
“I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC,” Hegseth responded, indicating that the administration's contempt for some key allies is not merely performative.
They did not acknowledge that the U.K. is utilizing its aerial refueling planes to maintain U.S. jets in the air over Yemen. The U.K., France, and other NATO allies also have warships in the Red Sea escorting commercial ships and intercepting Houthi drones and missiles.
Emojis of war were unleashed.
Waltz reacted to the initial bombing runs with “three emoji: a fist, an American flag, and fire," according to Goldberg.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles shared supportive messages, while Steve Witkoff, the Middle East special envoy, “responded with five emoji: two hands-praying, a flexed bicep, and two American flags.”
In response to Hegseth’s updates on the bombings, Vance remarked, “I will say a prayer for victory,” with two others adding prayer emojis.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
The chat, initiated by national security adviser Mike Waltz and mistakenly including The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, detailed the Trump administration's considerations regarding bombing the Houthis, a militant group based in Yemen known for targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Additionally, the messages contained dissenting opinions seldom expressed publicly and displayed a casual attitude toward classified information. Here are some key insights:
Vance opposed the bombing of the Houthis.
Vice President JD Vance expressed reservations about proceeding with a bombing campaign against the Iran-backed group.
“We are making a mistake,” he declared, noting that Europe is more dependent on Red Sea trade than the United States.
“3 percent of US trade runs through the [Suez Canal]. 40 percent of European trade does,” he emphasized. “There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary.”
Trump’s vice president doubts the president's comprehension of the situation.
Vance articulated concern that the president might not fully grasp the implications or the messaging associated with an airstrike against the Houthis.
“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” he noted, wary that the attacks could lead to increased oil prices.
“There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices,” he pointed out. “I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.”
National security leaders seemingly shared classified information.
CIA chief John Ratcliffe—or someone from his team acting under his name—texted information in the Signal chat that Goldberg refrained from publishing, stating it “contained information that might be interpreted as related to actual and current intelligence operations.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also disclosed likely classified information to the group. “The Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing," Goldberg reported.
The administration held strong views about Europe.
Vance and Hegseth expressed their disdain for European allies.
“I just hate bailing Europe out again,” Vance texted, noting that the Red Sea, where the Houthis had been attacking commercial vessels, facilitates more European trade than U.S. trade.
“I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC,” Hegseth responded, indicating that the administration's contempt for some key allies is not merely performative.
They did not acknowledge that the U.K. is utilizing its aerial refueling planes to maintain U.S. jets in the air over Yemen. The U.K., France, and other NATO allies also have warships in the Red Sea escorting commercial ships and intercepting Houthi drones and missiles.
Emojis of war were unleashed.
Waltz reacted to the initial bombing runs with “three emoji: a fist, an American flag, and fire," according to Goldberg.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles shared supportive messages, while Steve Witkoff, the Middle East special envoy, “responded with five emoji: two hands-praying, a flexed bicep, and two American flags.”
In response to Hegseth’s updates on the bombings, Vance remarked, “I will say a prayer for victory,” with two others adding prayer emojis.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
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